When the 

King Came 

A Christmas Pastoral Sketch 
for Young People. 

Eight Leading Characters. 
By Miss E. Stevens 



Price 10 cents 



FILLMORE MUSIC HOUSE 

528 Elm Street • Cincinnati, Oiiio 



Copyriglit, 1921, by The Fillmore Bros. Co. 



a,T-<. , *i b 1 "i 5" 






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©C1A625848 



WHAT THE SHEPHERDS SAW 

Scene I. 

A Immhlc home in Jerusalem. A peasant woman and a small 
girl sit making a garment. 

Reuben A Shepherd Lad 

Sarah His Mother 

TiRZAH His Sister 

[Enter Reuben in a state of suppressed excitement}. 

Sarah. My son, what means this? Where hast thou left 
thy flock? 

Reuben. Oh mother, my Uncle Dan tends the flock 
while I came hither to tell thee the news ! 

Sarah. News, Reuben? What news meanest thou? 

Reuben. Mother! Messiah hath been born ! 

Sarah [Reprovingly]. Speak not thus wickedly, my son. 
Jehovah will punish thee. 

Reuben. Listen, mother, and I will tell thee all 

Sarah. Perchance thy sister had better leave us. 

Tirzah. Oh brother, beseech our mother to let me also 
hear thy news! [Weeps.\ 

Reuben. Yea, little sister, weep not. Mother, thou wilt 
let her stay? 

Sarah. I have no choice since thou dost ask it, Reuben. 

Reuben. Then listen both of ye. 'Twas but two nights 
gone, and I with the other shepherds and their helpers was 
lying out on the hillside yonder. We were all watching our 
flocks, for, as thou knovvest, thy brother Dan hath lost four 
of his lambs in as many nights, and we were hoping to catch 
the thief. We began to talk and protest against this scheme 



4 WHEN THE KING CAME 

of Caesar's that all the world should be taxed yet more to 
add to Rome's already over-running colTers. My Uncle Dan 
had begun to unfold to some of us a plan whereby we might 
evade this wicked taxation of our little flocks, when suddenly 
all about vis shone a great light, and we heard voices out of 
the sky. 

TiRZAii. Oh Reuben, wert thou not frightened almost to 
death ? Voices ! 

Sarah. My son, hast thou been drinking more of Dan's 
summer wine, which I forbade thee to touch again? 

Reuben. Nay, mother, I had drunk nothing. 

TiRZAH. Perchance thou didst dream this light and these 
voices. 

REUBEN. Hold thy peace, child, and listen to thine elder 
brother. We all saw the light, as it were a ladder extending 
earthward from the stars. 

Sarah. Such a ladder as our father Jacob saw at Bethel? 

Reuben. Yea, mother, such a ladder of light. And we 
heard voices singing, but, oh, the sweetness of the music! 
Never have I heard the like, no, not even in the synagogue. 
And as we grew more accustomed to it, we could make out 
the words of the song. We saw bright forms with wings, 
crowned with light and radiance. Oh, mother ! . . . . . . 

Sarah. What were the words they sang? 

Reuben. One part of the Heavenly Choir would begin 
the strain and the others would take up their parts, and the 
words were "Glory to God in the Highest, On Earth Peace, 
Good Will Toward Men." 

Sarah. What didst thou and the rest do, my son? 

Reuben. We were all stricken with great fear, but one 
of the bright beings, who looked as the Rabbi says Gabriel 
looks, descended lower and lower from the sky until he 



WHEN THE KING CAME 5 

seemed to be but a little way from where we lay on the hill- 
side ; and he said unto us, "Fear not, for behold I bring you 
good tidings of great joy wHich shall be to all people ; for 
unto you is born this day in the City of David a Saviour 
which is Christ the Lord." 

TiRZAH. The City of David? That is Bethlehem. 

Sarah. What more didst thou hear, Reuben? 

Reuben. The bright one also said, "This shall be a sign 
unto you, ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes 
and lying in a manger." And then once again the great 
chorus burst out, beginning "Glory to God in the Highest," 
and the words grew fainter as the bright spirits went up the 
radiant ladder and disappeared from our view. Then all was 
quiet save for the noises of the flock. 

TiRZAH. Oh, that I had also been there, Reuben ! I 
would have learned that angel song, and might have sung it to 
thee when thou art weary. 

Reuben. Nay, little one, thou hast a voice sweet as the 
nightingale's, but thou couldst not sing such strains as the 
angels sang. No earthly voice could give forth such a 
melody ! 

Sarah. Distress not thy little sister thus, but tell us what 
happened after the angels had gone up from thee. 

Reuben. We divided our number, and half went straight- 
way into Bethlehem to see this thing, and the others remained 
with the flocks until their return. I, being one of the younger 
ones, had to wait until my elders had been and returned ; in 
truth, I am but just now come from Bethlehem and must 
hasten back to the flock, but I would not that ye should be 
ignorant of this great and wonderful thing. 

TiRZAH. What didst thou find at Bethlehem? 



WHEN THE KING CAME 



Sarah. Yea, thou hast left out that part of thy story. 

Reuben. I went and found the Inn of the Stranger filled 
with the people who had come at Caesar's command to pay 
their taxes, and I enquired of Eliab, the inn-keeper, whether 
a child had been born last night. He shook his head saying 
that no births had taken place at the inn, and then I remem- 
bered that the angel said "In a manger," so I made my way 
to the stall, and there I saw a woman, scarce more than a 
maid, with blue eyes and ruddy complexion like the elders 
say King David's were, and in her arms lay the form of a 
lately born child. We came in softly, and as I looked at the 
Babe's tiny face cuddled close in the crook of his mother's 
arm, something, I knew not what, made me remove my 
sandals and sink on to my knees amid the straw, and when I 
looked around all the other shepherds had done likewise. 

Sarah. Was the Child's father there in the stall, too? 

Reuben. Nay, that I know not. Although while we 
tarried, there came in a man of mature years, whom some said 
was Joseph of Nazareth, a carpenter, but he looked at the 
Babe with reverent and adoring eyes even as did all of us. 

Sarah. Strange are the ways of the Lord! Reuben, 
return thou now to thy flock and leave me to ponder over 
what thou hast told me, and we will talk of this matter again. 

Reuben. Then farewell for a little space. And be thou 
a good child, Tirzah, and I will bring thee one of my new 
lambs for a playmate. 

[Exit Reuben.] 

Tirzah. Oh, mother, can we not go to Bethlehem and see 
this wonderful Child whom Reuben saith is the Messiah? 

Sarah. I have a kinsman at Bethlehem, perchance he may 
also know of this wonder. 

Curtain 



WHEN THE KING CAME 7 

THE MEETING OF THE MAGI 
Scene H. 

Room at the Inn in Jerusalem. 

[Pharos, an Egyptian Sage, walks up and down looking 
from time to tirnc at a scroll he holds in his hands. He wears 
a gold star on his breast.] 

The Magi 
GovixD (The Wise).. .A Hindu Prince and Sage 

Pharos (The Light) An Egyptian Priest 

ArTEmus (Truth Seeker) . . .A Greek Soothsayer- 

Pharos. [Solil.] Strange, passing strange! Thus far- 
have I been guided by tlie Star, even as the mystic writings 
told, but I have come alone. Where are they who should 
have met me, the sages from other lands? Have I mis- 
judged the time? [Looks carefully at the scroll.] Ha ! wha 
comes hither? 

[Enter Govind the Wise from India; wears gold star on 
breast.] 

[Both salaam deeply.] 

GoviND. Hail, stranger prince ! Am I in the presence of 
another follower of the Star? 

Pharos. A follo'v\-er indeed. I am Pharos, the Light of 
Egypt. From the Land of ancient Khem have I travelled 
across the great desert, ^fy attendants fainted and fell by 
the way, and their bones lie bleaching on the sands, but I 
pressed onward alone, and even now my last camel lyeth 
without the city gate dying. But from whence art thou ? 



8 WHEN THE KING CAME 

GoviND. From the ancient land of Hind am I come, 
where I am known as Govind the Wise. A searcher after 
Truth have I ever been, and when among our sacred writings 
I found the prophecy that out of this Land of Israel there 
should arise One who should reign and whose Kingdom 
should have no end, I left my native land, and have come to 
pay Him homage and to lay my offering at His feet. 

Pharos. Strange, indeed, are the ways of the gods, that 
/ should come hither to do homage to a King risen among the 
people whose fathers were once slaves in my land, and whom 
my fathers forced to make bricks to build our palaces and 
temples. But my time is short, and there is yet one other 
Follower of the Star for whom we must wait. 

GoviND. ]\Iethinks he must soon arrive, for he appeared 
with a vast retinu^ at the city gates just after my own slaves 
had entered. His horses were a sight to behold, and he also 
wore the star on his breast, though from whence he comes I 
know not. Ha ! this is he ! 

[Enter Artcmus, a Greek, tvcaring star on breast.] All 
salute. 

Artcmus. So, brothers, it hath happened even as the 
heavens foretold, for you, too, surely, are seekers after Him 
whose sign is a Star, even as I. 

Pharos. Yea, good sir, I represent the mother of all 
learning and mystery, for from ancient Eg}'pt am I come to 
worship this new King of the Jews. 

GovixD. And I from a land scarce less ancient, for India 
is my land, where the ancient gods have held sway since time 
began and Brahma made the world. But methinks thou art 
from yet another land. 

Artemus. Thou speakest truly, good Hindu, for from 
the far-famed Isle of Greece do I hail, where the blue waters 



WHEN THE KING CAME 9 

of the salt sea wash upon our ever green shores, and where 
the songs of the sea nymphs may still be heard by those whose 
ears are attuned to their melodies. I was led hither by the 
light of a wondrous Star that blazed in the. eastern sky and 
whose beams seemed to bid me follow wheresoever it led. I, 
too, would seek this new-born King and lay my offering of 
gold at His infant feet. 

GoviND. I have brought with me frankincense, for our 
mystical writings say that this King shall not be as other 
kings. He shall be invested with Deity ; therefore, did I 
include frankincense with my gift, and will do Him homage 
as a god. 

Pharos. My offering will contain myrrh. 

GoviND. Myrrh? Then thou deemest this King of the 
Jews to be Lord also of the Dead, seeing thou bringest spices 
for the dead. Or, perchance, thou hast forgotten that thou* 
comest to a birth and not to a funeral ! 

Pharos. Nay, good Hindu ; mock me not. For truly the 
horoscope of this new King doth say that He hath all power 
over Death and the After-World. The heavens have told me 
strange tales of Him, for He shall not reign as do other kings, 
but He must suffer many things at the hand of His people. 
He must be put to death, but even thus He shall not remain 
with the dead, for the planets show that he shall rise again 
and live forever. 

GoviND. He must then indeed be from God as well as a 
King to whom we have come to pay homage. That He shall 
be exceedingly wonderful our sacred books show, but noth- 
ing of what thou hast said, O Egyptian. 

Artemus. Among the gods of my people are many won- 
ders, but none like unto what thou dost tell. Thy ancient 
books indeed contain many marvels. 



10 WHEN THE KING CAME 

Pharos. Nay, brother sages, I found not all I have told 
ye in our books. But I am an old man, and when one draws 
nigh to the grave one's eyes and ears become sharpened to 
the unseen things even as they become dulled to earthly 
things. Not from our books have I discovered all this, but 
from the signs of the heavens and many years of seeking 
among tlie planets. Together with this, there have been 
visions given to me, but of them I may not speak even unto 
you, except to say that as I abode in the shrine of Osiris to 
worship the sun as he sank into the Nile, it became suddenly 
dark in the shrine and I heard a great and terrible voice which 
called unto me and said, "Oh, Pharos, thou who art called the 
Light of Egypt; with all thy searching thou canst not find 
God. Cease, then, to pray to the sun and cease from adoring 
the fire, and from henceforth worship only Him who made 
both sun and fire. Not in these great temples shalt thou find 
Him, but follow thou yon Star and it shall lead thee to Him 
who is the ]\Iaker of all things visible and invisible." And so 
I followed the Star, and I would bid ye both to pray to your 
gods if mayhap they will endow you also with eyes to pierce 
the gloom beyond. 

GoviND. Thus far hath the Star led us all. Where think 
you we should now look for this King? 

Artemus. Methinks he should be known at the court of 
Herod, and I would that all proceed thither and enquire of 
Jiim concerning this matter. 

GovixD. The way is good. What sayest thou, venerable 
Egyptian ? 

Pharos. Aye, to Herod's court if ye are so minded, but 
methinks we shall not find Him tJicrc whom we seek. 

GoviND. Where then, O Reader of the Stars? 



WHEN THE KING CAME 11 

Pharos. Nay, that I can not tell, but perchance we may 
yet learn something at Herod's palace ; and surely the Star 
will again guide us at night. 

Artemus. To Herod's court, then. Lead on, noble 
Pharos. 

[Exit all.] 

Curtain 



12 WHEN THE KING CAME 

HEROD'S DECREE 

Scene III. 

A Garden of Herod's Palace. 

Lemuel A Hebrew Money Lender 

Marcus One of his Patrons 

[Lemuel pacing slozvly up and dozvn the zvalk. Marcus 
comes szviffly tozvard him.] 

Lemuel. Peace be with thee, noble Marcus. 

Marcus. Hush thee! Speak softly. 

Lemuel. Wherefore this secrecy? [Marcus pulls him 
aside.] 

IMarcus. I have come to warn thee, Lemuel. Thou hast 
ni thy house a small child. 

Lemuel. Yea, my little Samuel of nine months old. The 
sweetest and dearest 



Marcus. Spare me, Lemuel ; I know what thou wouldst 
say. But listen thou, I have just left Herod, and have heard 
him give an order that may affect thee and thy infant Samuel. 

Lemuel. How sayest thou? 

]\L\RCUS. Herod hath but just issued an edict that all male 
babes shall be put to the sword that are of age two years and 
under. 

Lemuel. Unnatural monster! Hath the king gone alto- 
gether mad? 

AIarcus. Nay, good Lemuel, there is great method in his 
madness. It hafh been brought to his knowledge by certain 



WHEN THE KING CAME 13 

great sages from the East that there hath been born a new 
King of the Jews, and Herod, fearing for his throne, hath 
ordered all man children under two years old to be butchered, 
so that this King shall be destroyed amongst them. Seeing 
that I am a friend of this same Herod, although at times his 
excesses sicken me, I was not ordered out while the captain 
received his orders signed and sealed with the king's seal. T 
saw thee walking in the garden, and remembering thy kind- 
ness to me when I needed money, which is always, I made 
haste to warn thee, so that thou and thy infant son might yet 
have time to escape this slaughter of little ones. 

Lemuel. [Casting up Jiis eyes.] Oh, God of Abraham! 
how long must we suffer thus? 

Marcus. [Impatiently.] Cease thy prayers, and get thee 
to thy house and make thee ready to leave the country. 

Lemuel. But whither shall we flee, good Marcus? All 
my goods are here. 

Marcus. A truce to thy goods ! Wouldst rather preserve 
thy goods or thy offspring ? 

Lemuel. Oh, my little Samuel ! I will fly at once ! 

. Marcus. Well, be thou warned to fly to a country beyond 
Rome's dominion. Fare thee well. 

Lemuel. May the God of Jacob reward thee, heathen 
though thou art. I will cancel half thy debt to me when this 
affair hath blown over. 

Marcus. I thank thee, son of Abraham, for thy kind 
intentions, but methinks thou wilt do well to hasten, for the 
soldiers will lose no time to carry Herod's order, which will 
be much to their taste, seeing they love not thy race over 
much. Adieu ! 

Curtain / 



14 WHEN THE KING CAME 

THE FIRST BELIEVERS 

Scene IV. 

The Shepherd's Home at Jerusalem. 

[Sarah and Tirzah sit talking with Reuben.] 

Reuben. So, thou hast returned from Bethlehem and hast 
seen the Child, mother ? 

Sarah. Aye, we found the manger at the Inn, whither 
Mary of Nazareth had gone and where the child was born. 
Truly wondrous are the ways of the Lord with His chosen 
people. 

Reuben. Dost believe that this is indeed the Messiah 
for whose coming our race hath waited so long ? 

Sarah. How can I doubt it, my son? Have I not 
searched the Scriptures, and found that all the things the 
prophets spake concerning Messiah have been fulfilled in 
yonder Babe at Bethlehem? 

Reuben. Hast heard how His life is now threatened by 
Herod? Certain great Sages sought out Herod to know 
where the new King should be born, and Herod hath been 
consumed with fear, since they have not returned to tell him 
further of this thing as he commanded them. Seeing that 
he hath been mocked of these Wise ]\Ien who have returned 
to their own land by some other way, Herod hath conceived a 
plan to put all male children to the sword from two years old 
and under, thinking thus to bring about the death of this new 
King, and even now the wailing of these bereaved mothers is 
in our ears night and day, until my soul is sick with com- 
passion. . , •. 



WHEN THE KING CAME 15 

Sarah. Aye, the cruel monster, king though he be ! Yet 
shall all his plots come to nought, for yonder Babe, beino- 
truly the Messiah, shall be preserved from harm, for who can 
hurt the Lord's Anointed ? 

TiRZAH. Thinkest thou the soldiers who attempted to kill 
Him would fall mysteriously slain by the Babe's mighty 
power? 

Reuben. How shall we say, little sister; but one thing I 
know from Amos who tends the flock with me, and who hath 
a cousin at Bethlehem. He hath sent Amos word that the 
manger at the Inn is no longer inhabited by the Child and His 
mother, but they have gone, none know whither. They had 
departed even before the edict had been signed by Herod, but 
where they have departed is a mystery. But be sure of this, 
that no power of Rome or any other can harm this Child, for 
did I not hear the angels proclaim that this is indeed- the 
Saviour of the World and our promised Messiah, who shall 
save His people from their sins. 

Curtain 



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